Central European governments accused of abusing CAP subsidies
Central European governments have been accused of abusing European agriculture subsidies.
The European Union pays out over €58 billion in farm subsidies to support EU farmers and rural communities in 2018.
However, according to a New York Times investigation of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy subsidies in nine European countries, millions of euros are pocketed by a handful of companies, often linked to national leaders. Most notably this included Andrej Babis, the billionaire prime minister of the Czech Republic, who the paper said is linked to a company that received at least $42 million in subsidies last year.
The investigation also accused Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, of abusing the EU’s subsidies to fund a system of patronage linked to land leases.
The report even accused the CAP of underwriting “mafia-style land grabs” in Slovakia and Bulgaria.
Daniel Rosario, spokesperson for agriculture and rural development, stated: "The European Union has very clear rules about how EU funds should be managed, notably when it comes to agricultural funds. According to the shared management principle, Member States are primarily responsible for the sound and legal management of EU funds.”
Pic: Droits d'auteur taxzi